Receiving Peace chapter 2
by Margaret Lehman October 6, 2020
His Shoulders
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be
upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 NKJV
Who’s in charge? Does anybody around here know what they’re doing? Senseless bureaucracy and inept leadership drive me crazy.
I don’t think I could do better. I don’t want their job. I know leadership is tougher than I can imagine. But I want whoever is in charge to be wise, right, and effective.
Good news: “The government will be upon His shoulder.”
And I thought my shoulders were tight. Jesus carries all the responsibility of ruling—everything, everyone, in all places, and for all time.
That is peace to me, because His shoulders are perfect in all they represent.
First, His shoulders determine the leaning and direction. Whichever way He leans or pushes, that’s the direction that will be taken. His call. And He is a good Ruler. Everything He does as Ruler is right. Right move, right time. It is good to be under His rulership. For governing to rest on His shoulders is for it to be in the right place. I am at peace with His rulership in charge. Those shoulders don’t shrug. Ever.
Second, His shoulders represent His power and strength. Those shoulders do not experience stress or fatigue. They do not crack under pressure. They will never give way. The Omnipotent One is capable. He can carry the weight of the world.
Personally, that means that He can carry me, like that lamb found by the shepherd in Luke 15:5. He can handle the cares I roll over onto Him (1 Peter 5:7). And for whatever small responsibilities I am tasked with, He invites me alongside in His yoke (Matthew 11:28-30). There His shoulders bear the bulk of the weight. He does the heavy lifting. I get to draw on His power and strength in my position beside Him.
I am at peace knowing that His bulk strength is more than sufficient for me.
Third, His shoulders have received the authority, right, and responsibility of governing. Like a knight kneeling to be dubbed with a sword or a military hero pinned with epaulets, Jesus has received from the Father “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). “The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open” (Isaiah 22:22, see also Revelation 3:7).
All authority rests on the Prince of Peace. And so the passage in Isaiah 9 can continue, “There will be no end to the increase of His government OR OF PEACE” (Isaiah 9:7).
The Prince of Peace is in charge. It is right. And we are in good hands.